Portable sanitizing device

ABSTRACT

A portable sanitizing device with a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape. The concave panel each includes a pair of elongate apertures for allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through. A foam pad is attached to the outer surface of the concave panel. A protective cover encloses the concave surface of the housing panel. A cylindrically shaped enclosure holds a scroll of paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid and fits within the rectangular housing. A rectangular portion of cloth fabric is attached to one outer surface of the rectangular housing. The paper towel strip is threaded out of the cylindrical housing and over the foam pad and out through a slit in the housing side panel. The resulting device can be used to sanitize the handle of a shopping cart.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of cleaning devices andmore specifically to a portable sanitizing device.

It has long been known that germs and viruses can be transferred from afirst person to a second person by a the first infected person touchinga surface and the second non infected person touching the same surfacethereby causing a transference of the germ or virus from the firstperson to the second person. This effect can especially be true whenpeople's hands come into contact with handle surfaces such as a shoppingcart handle.

Some grocery stores provide their shoppers with paper towels or othercleaning materials for the purpose of cleaning a shopping cart handle.

Some individuals carry a small amount of cleaning supplies with them intheir purse or pocket for the purpose of cleaning shopping cart handlesor other commonly touched handles such as bathroom handles in publicplaces.

However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that a personcan not count on the fact that a grocery store or other stores thatemploy shopping carts will have handle cleaning supplies available fortheir customers. Secondly, even if a paper towel is made available,there is no guarantee that it will have the proper ingredients tosanitize the handle in question. Third, it is inconvenient for a personto have to carry their own cleaning equipment in their purse or pocket.Finally, there may be no convenient receptacle located nearby to deposita paper towel once it has been used for the purpose of cleaning ahandle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizingdevice that can be used to disinfect the handle of a standard shoppingcart.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizingdevice that has a removable and replaceable cartridge that houses ascroll of paper towel that is impregnated with disinfectant liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizingdevice that includes an absorbent cloth towel panel attached to onesurface of the device that can be used to wipe off the remains of theliquid disinfectant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizingdevice that includes a pocket attached to the outer surface of thedevice that can removably receive a used portion of the paper towelstrip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isdisclosed a portable sanitizing device comprising: a primarilyrectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave inshape, said concave panel attached to one side wall of said rectangularhousing so that said concave panel perpendicularly extends out from saidside wall, the left and right side of said concave panel each includingan elongate aperture for allowing a strip of paper towel to passthrough, one side panel of said rectangular housing having an elongateaperture allowing said strip of paper towel to pass through, a resilientclosed cell foam pad, said pad fixed to the outer surface of saidconcave panel, a removable and replaceable rigid protective coverenclosing said concave surface of said housing panel, a rigidcylindrically shaped enclosure, said strip of paper towel forming ascroll, said paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid, saidpaper scroll enclosed within said cylindrical enclosure, saidcylindrical enclosure having an elongate aperture allowing the exit ofsaid enclosed paper towel strip, a flexible pocket, said pocket affixedto one outside wall of said rectangular housing, a rectangular portionof cloth fabric, said fabric attached to a backing panel, said fabricand panel removably attached to one outer surface of said rectangularhousing, one side panel of said rectangular housing being removable andreplaceable, said cylindrical enclosure removably replaceable withinsaid rectangular housing by removing said housing side panel, and saidpaper towel trip threaded out of said elongate aperture of saidcylindrical housing and threaded through said right side aperture ofsaid rectangular housing and over said resilient pad and through saidleft side of said concave panel and out through said elongated apertureof said housing side panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects ofthe invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person using the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the invention with the protectivecover removed.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the invention with the protectivecover removed and the paper strip removed.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the paper roll cartridge of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein.It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may beembodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedsystem, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of a person 4 usingthe sanitizing device of the present invention 100 on the handle 10 of ashopping cart 2. A protective cover 6 has been opened. A moistened paperstrip 16 impregnated with sanitizing solution cleans the handle 10before use. Because the sanitizing device 100 is portable, it can beeasily carried in a person's pocket or purse.

Referring now to FIG. 2 we see a perspective view of the invention 100.The top cover 6 is in the closed position. The invention is constructedof a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one removableside wall 22 and one surface 28 that is concave in nature. The housingand cover are constructed of moldable plastic, preferably high densitypolypropylene which can have living hinge properties. The top cover isheld closed by a standard removable and replaceable fastener. In thepresent embodiment the faster is a magnet 12 that engages the metalsurface of a paper retaining bar 14. The paper retaining bar 14 alsoincludes a serrated edge to help tear the paper strip 16 when necessary.Key chain 20 allows the user to attach keys and to thereby have theinvention provide a double function of a sanitizing device and a keyholding device.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the invention 100 with the cover 6 inthe open position. Paper strip 16 can be seen as it exits a slot 32,travels over a resilient pad 38, through slot 34 and then out throughslot 36. The paper strip is held close to the housing of the invention100 by means of retaining bar 14. In the present embodiment, covermember 6 is hingedly connected to the housing by living hinge member 30.The paper strip is guided by side panels 24, 26 which are also made ofresilient material such as dosed cell foam silicone, which is the samematerial that the resilient pad 38 is made from. The side panels 24, 26rise slightly above the main pad 38 so that when the user slides thepaper strip 16 across a shopping cart handle 10 from side to side asshown in FIG. 1, the strip 16 is not inclined to be pushed off of thepad 38.

FIG. 4 shows the invention 100 with the top cover 6 in the raisedposition, and with the paper strip 16 removed to fully reveal resilientpad 38 and to more clearly show elongate apertures 32, 34 and 36.

FIG. 5 shows a side section view of the invention as defined by sectionline 80 shown in FIG. 2. Paper strip 16 can be seen rolled up in ascroll fashion about shaft 44. The strip is held within a cylindricalhousing 46. The housing has an exit slot 53 with a pair of resilientslot covering members 54,56 that help make the entire cylindricalenclosure air tight thereby allowing the paper strip 16 contained withinto remain in a moistened state. Pocket 40 can be dearly seen and is usedto store used paper strips after they have finished their function ofsanitizing a handle. The used strip portion can then be removed frompocket 40 and thrown into the trash when convenient.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the invention with the side panel 22removed. The panel is held in place by friction fit pins 60, 62 fittinginto apertures 66, 64 respectively. Paper holding cartridge assembly 50can be removed and replaced into the main housing. Resilient strips 54,56 can be dearly seen helping to provide a relatively air tight closure50.

When the scroll of sanitizing paper is used up, the user can remove thecartridge 50 and replace it with a new one.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the cartridge 50. Paper scroll 16 iswrapped around shaft 44. the scroll is inserted into cartridge housing46 and threaded through a slot in the housing and between strips 54, 56.Closure cap 52 is then fastened in place over the cylindrical housing46.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the invention turned upside down tofully reveal the absorbent cloth panel 18 that can be used to dry theshopping cart handle 10 after the user has sanitized it by sliding themoistened sanitizing paper strip 16 over the handle 10. In the preferredembodiment the cloth panel 18 can be removed and replaced by standardmeans, such as hook and loop fasteners, to allow the user to replace thepanel 18 or to clean it.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. portable sanitizing device comprising: a primarily rectangular hollowrigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape; said concavepanel attached to one side wall of said rectangular housing so that saidconcave panel perpendicularly extends out from said side wall; the leftand right side of said concave panel each including an elongate aperturefor allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through; one side panel ofsaid rectangular housing having an elongate aperture allowing said stripof paper towel to pass through; a resilient closed cell foam pad; saidpad fixed to the outer surface of said concave panel; a removable andreplaceable rigid protective cover enclosing said concave surface ofsaid housing panel; a rigid cylindrically shaped enclosure; said stripof paper towel forming a scroll; said paper towel impregnated with asanitizing liquid; said paper scroll enclosed within said cylindricalenclosure; said cylindrical enclosure having an elongate apertureallowing the exit of said enclosed paper towel strip; a flexible pocket;said pocket affixed to one outside wall of said rectangular housing; arectangular portion of cloth fabric; said fabric attached to a backingpanel; said fabric and panel removably attached to one outer surface ofsaid rectangular housing; one side panel of said rectangular housingbeing removable and replaceable; said cylindrical enclosure removablyreplaceable within said rectangular housing by removing said housingside panel; and said paper towel trip threaded out of said elongateaperture of said cylindrical housing and threaded through said rightside aperture of said rectangular housing and over said resilient padand through said left side of said concave panel and out through saidelongated aperture of said housing side panel.
 2. portable sanitizingdevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein a left and right resilient sidewall abut the said resilient foam pad and slidably retain said papertowel strip.
 3. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a flexible pocket portion attached to one side of saidrectangular housing to removably retain a used portion of said papertowel strip.
 4. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a key chain ring affixed to one corner of said rectangularhousing.
 5. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein oneside of said protective cover is hingably fastened to said rectangularhousing and where the opposite side of said cover is removably retainedto said rectangular housing by standard fastening means.